Legacy.

Today, in what I would consider to be a fairly tasteless photo op, the president took a forty foot jog, around a running track at the White House with Christian Bagge, a 23 year old, double amputee who lost both legs in Iraq.
The president and Bagge stopped briefly, half way on the jog to chat with reporters. The president confessed that when he met Bagge in the hospital and Bagge suggested that they might go jogging together, the president honestly didn't believe that the young man would ever leave the hospital bed. Being a good sport, though, he didn't bust the young vets bubble and agreed to the run.
Which finally took place today.



What they talked about for the larger part of the run, can only be speculated at...

Bush - "You ready, Bagge?"

Bagge- "Yes sir, Mr. President."

Bush - "Listen, before we go, two things! One, don't beat me out there. The terrorists would be emboldened, if they saw the American President being outrun by a handicapped guy. So, hold it back a bit, okay? I'm not as fast on my feet as I used to be."

Bagge - "Uh. yes. Yes sir, Mr. President."

Bush - "The other thing is when we get to the reporters, let me do all the talking. I've got a lot of enemies in Washington and they'd love to twist your words against me. So, let me address the press."

Bagge - "No problem, sir."

Bush - "Okay, let's race! We start on the count of 3. Ready? ......1!....." (immediately begins running) "2,3!"

Bagge begins the long laborious jog on his running prosthetics, resigned to lose to the president. Bush takes a distant lead, but is advised in his earpiece that he should slow down and actually run with Bagge. They make idle chat as they get up to the reporters.

Bush - "So, did it hurt, gettin' yer legs blown off."

Bagge - "Yes sir. It was .... (uh).... terribly painful."

Bush - "I bet. I saw thet movie, Misery, where that fat lady takes a sledge hammer to Robert Duvalls ankles? That's gotta hurt."

Bagge - "Actually, I think it was Jimmy Caan..."

Bush - "My legs hurt. All the time. I'm gettin' older and my knees are going out. That's why I bicycle these days, instead of jogging. I haven't jogged in a year or so. You ever think of biking?"

Bagge - "Yes, yes I do. I just haven't tried it since the accident."

Bush - "It's good for your knees."

Bagge - "Well, I only have the one now."

Bush - "Here we go, Press Time! Just you let me handle it. "

Bush and Bagge briefly meet with the press. Bush admits that he never seriously thought Bagge would ever run again. They pet Bush's dog. And resume their run.

Almost immediately, Bush turns to Bagge and confides in him.

Bush - "Listen, Eric. This has been swell, but I've got to get back to some presidential stuff. Do you mind finishing the run with one of my aides?
Come on over here, buddy. Eric, this is Eric. Hey, you two fellas got a lot in common! He'll finish the run with you. Treat him like he's me. Anything you want to say to me, say to Eric. And he'll type it up and present it to me, later. Anything he says, you can take from me. Just don't repeat it to the press or I'll have you sued. Ha ha! Just kidding. Not really though. Loose lips!Thanks for fighting for your country and for not being a big crybaby about your legs and stuff."

The president hops into a waiting golf cart and whizzes away. The page, a portly Jewish kid, with sweat streaming down his face, wearing a blue dress shirt, conservative tie and slacks, joins Bagge to complete the run. Bagge, frustrated, but unable to express it in front of the cameras, stares straight ahead, focusing on the end of the run.

Bagge - "My name's not Eric. It's actually Christian Bagge."

Page - "My name's not Eric, either. It's Wally."

And they run the rest of the jog in silence, punctuated by Wally's ragged gasps for breath and the clickety-clack of Bagge's prosthetics running on the tarmac.



Today, under a cloudy Washington sky, President Bush provided a handy visual aide for those interested in visualizing his presidential legacy.